Day 17

Daily Prayer

Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother;
to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.

Mary, Most Admirable

The mother of seven sons had to watch while her sons were hurt by others and put to death. She could have encouraged them to deny God and live, but instead she praised them for staying faithful to God.

Stabat Mater!

Is there any amount of money or any prize that would cause you to deny God? If you were threatened, would you deny God? Would you tell any others to deny God, or would you encourage their faithfulness?

Our blessed Mother was filled with joy for Jesus throughout his whole life. Even at the Cross she was joyful, for she knew that Jesus was following the will of the Father, and she also was following the will of the Father.

The Christian faith has always been under attack. Powerful rulers have always felt threatened by those who put their faith in something beyond their earthly rule. When we put God first, we are willing to say no to an immoral request, or to challenge an immoral (sinful) law or action on the part of the rulers.

Mary is our source of support in those times when others try to force us to deny God and His laws. It is easy to be a Christian when things are good and there is no persecution, but when our friends go against God’s laws, it becomes difficult to continue to be faithful. It is in times like these that saints stand strong, when we are able to show the greatness of putting God first in our lives.

How much would you give up for God? Would you give up your video games, iPad, phone? Would you give up your home, your car, your money? At what point does your faith in God stop?

Have you ever been pressured to do something you knew was wrong? What can you do to be prepared to choose what is right even when being pressured to do what is wrong?

We must live our faith in small ways, like praying before meals in public, to prepare for the bigger challenges to our faith. Mary, our mother, is ready and willing to help us remain faithful; and God the Father has sent the Holy Spirit to be with us and strengthen us. Do not hesitate to call on the Holy Spirit in prayer to overcome all temptations.

Daily Practice this week

This week we offer up some small sacrifice at least three times each day.

Closing Prayer

Most compassionate Father, your beloved Son became obedient unto death. May his blessed mother help us to always say “fiat” as she did. May she put the joy of the heart of Jesus into our hearts – the divine joy of the one who surrendered everything in order to glorify you – so that we may remain faithful to the end. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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“The great danger for family life, in the midst of any society whose idols are pleasure, comfort and independence, lies in the fact that people close their hearts and become selfish.” – Pope St. John Paul II

“Thus the little domestic Church, like the greater Church, needs to be constantly and intensely evangelized: hence its duty regarding permanent education in the faith…the family, like the Church, ought to be a place where the Gospel is transmitted and from which the Gospel radiates…the future of evangelization depends in great part on the Church of the home” – Pope St. John Paul II